Central Belt
Dog-friendly date ideas in Edinburgh
Updated
Edinburgh is a good city for a date with a dog, because so much of the best of it is outdoors and free. Holyrood Park puts a proper hill walk at the bottom of the Royal Mile, and between Portobello’s long stretch of sand, the causeway at Cramond and the wooded glen of the Hermitage of Braid, there’s a walk for any mood. Indoors is harder, but St Giles’ Cathedral and Edinburgh Printmakers both let dogs in, and the Devil’s Advocate welcomes them in its bar and on the terrace for a dram afterwards. From April to July, while birds are nesting, the council asks for dogs to be kept close or on a short lead in the woods, on the grassland and along the shore.
Our picks
Arthur's Seat
Holyrood Park, at the foot of the Royal Mile
Address: Holyrood Park, Queen's Drive, Edinburgh EH8 8AZClimb the old volcano in Holyrood Park for a view over the whole city, from the castle to the Firth of Forth.
Why it's a good date: It feels like a proper hill walk, and you're back in town within a couple of hours. Go early for a quieter summit, wear decent shoes, and stop for breakfast in the Old Town on the way down. Dogs are welcome in the park: keep them on a lead where signs ask, in the bird nesting season.
Photo: Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Calton Hill
Regent Road, at the east end of Princes Street
Address: Calton Hill, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH7 5AAWalk up the short path from Princes Street to the monuments on Calton Hill and watch the sun go down over the Old Town.
Why it's a good date: The classic Edinburgh view for very little effort: the castle, the Balmoral clock and Arthur's Seat all in one frame. Bring a flask and go on a clear evening. Dogs are welcome on the hill, kept under close control.
Photo: Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
Dean Village and the Water of Leith
Dean Path, West End, to Stockbridge
Address: Dean Village, Bell's Brae, Edinburgh EH4 3BEFollow the Water of Leith Walkway from Dean Village, a cluster of old mill buildings in a gorge, downstream to Stockbridge.
Why it's a good date: Ten minutes from Princes Street and it feels like a village. On a Sunday, time it to finish at Stockbridge Market for lunch from the stalls. Dogs are welcome on the walkway; keep them on a lead where it's busy.
Photo: Graeme Yuill, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)
Portobello Beach
Portobello Promenade, east Edinburgh
Address: Portobello Promenade, Edinburgh EH15 1HHTake the bus to Edinburgh's seaside and walk the promenade along two miles of sand.
Why it's a good date: A day at the beach without leaving the city. Walk the prom one way and the sand the other, and warm up with chips or an ice cream from one of the cafés along the front. Dogs are welcome on the sand all year; from April to July, when birds are nesting, keep them close or on a short lead.
Photo: Graeme Yuill, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)
St Giles' Cathedral
High Street, Royal Mile, Old Town
Address: High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1RE- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Dog friendly
Step inside the High Kirk on the Royal Mile for its stained glass, blue vaulted ceiling and the carved Thistle Chapel.
Why it's a good date: One of the few big Old Town sights you can see with your dog: dogs are allowed in the building, and staff or volunteers will bring water if yours needs some. You'll need a ticket now (free with a Resident Pass if you live in Scotland), and it's a dry half hour before a wander down the Royal Mile.
Photo: Eveline Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
Edinburgh Printmakers
Castle Mill Works, Gilmore Park, Fountainbridge
Address: Castle Mills, 1 Dundee Street, Edinburgh EH3 9FP- Culture
- Free
- Dog friendly
See the free exhibitions in the old rubber mill offices at Fountainbridge, browse prints in the shop, then walk the Union Canal towpath next door.
Why it's a good date: The whole building is dog friendly apart from the main print studio, so your dog can come round the galleries, shop and café with you. A small print makes a good keepsake of the day, and the canal is right outside for a stroll afterwards.
Photo: M J Richardson, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
The Devil's Advocate
Advocate's Close, Old Town
Address: 9 Advocate's Close, Edinburgh EH1 1ND- Bar
- Mid-price
- Dog friendly
- Cosy
- Romantic
Share a dram or a cocktail in a 19th-century pump house down Advocate's Close, a steep Old Town lane just off the Royal Mile.
Why it's a good date: Stone walls, low light and over 300 whiskies, plus a covered terrace with heaters and blankets for a cold night. Dogs are welcome in the bar and on the terrace but not in the restaurant, so make it drinks rather than dinner if yours is coming. It's up a run of stairs.
Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill
Braid Road, Morningside
Address: Hermitage of Braid, 69a Braid Road, Edinburgh EH10 6JFFollow the Braid Burn through the wooded glen of the Hermitage, then climb Blackford Hill for a view back over the city to the castle and Arthur's Seat.
Why it's a good date: A local nature reserve that feels miles from town, with a burn alongside the path and an open hilltop at the end. Dogs are welcome under close control; from April to July, when birds are nesting, keep them on a short lead in the woods and on the grassland.
Photo: Graeme Yuill, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)
Cramond Shore and Causeway
Cramond Glebe Road, Cramond, north-west Edinburgh
Address: Cramond Glebe Road, Edinburgh EH4 6NUWalk the shore at Cramond, the old village where the River Almond meets the Forth, and out along the line of wartime concrete pylons towards Cramond Island.
Why it's a good date: Wide sands, big skies and room for a dog to stretch its legs. The island is only safe to reach around low tide: check the safe crossing times on the board at the start of the causeway, and turn back in good time, because the tide comes in fast. From April to July, when birds are nesting, keep dogs close or on a short lead on the shore.
Photo: Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)
Glencorse Reservoir, Pentland Hills
Flotterstone, off the A702 south of Edinburgh
Address: Flotterstone car park, off the A702, Penicuik EH26 0PPHead out to Flotterstone, on the edge of the Pentland Hills, and walk the quiet track up the glen to Glencorse Reservoir.
Why it's a good date: Proper hills about half an hour from the city centre, on an easy track a dog will love. Most of the park is sheep farming, so the rangers ask you to keep your dog on a lead unless you're sure it won't run off, and to keep it out of the water if there's blue-green algae after warm weather.
Photo: Stevie Wallace, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Quick answers
Do dogs need to be on a lead in Edinburgh's parks?
Not everywhere. The council's park rules ask for dogs under close control, out of children's play areas, and kept close or on a short lead near young farm animals and from April to July in woods, grassland and on the shore, while birds are nesting. Holyrood Park is run by Historic Environment Scotland, which welcomes dogs and asks you to follow the signs about leads in nesting season.
Are dogs allowed on Portobello Beach?
Yes, all year. From April to July the council's rules for the seashore ask you to keep your dog close, at heel or on a short lead, and to pick up after it as anywhere in the city.
Can we bring our dog to Edinburgh's attractions?
Some. St Giles' Cathedral lets dogs into the building, and Edinburgh Printmakers is dog friendly everywhere except its main print studio. Camera Obscura and World of Illusions no longer allows pet dogs, only guide and assistance dogs. Policies change, so check before a big day out.
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